Races develop for mayor, aldermen

Tuesday

Apr 2, 2013 at 12:09 PMApr 2, 2013 at 12:11 PM

Sharon Shifflet

A contest is looming in the city of Fairbury for the Consolidated Election on April 9.Incumbent Fairbury Mayor Robert P. Walter Jr. is being challenged by a former mayor, Roger Lynn Dameron.Walter, who has served as mayor of Fairbury since 1997, is seeking his fifth term. He is a retired elementary school principal and currently volunteers with the American Red Cross of the Heartland.Dameron served two terms as Fairbury's mayor, from 1989 to 1997. Both Walter and Dameron served as aldermen prior to being elected mayor. Dameron is currently a Realtor and developer.In the race for alderman of Ward 1, incumbent Thadd Walter is being challenged by newcomer Bruce Weber, and in Ward 4 Terry Zimmerman has entered the race against incumbent Terry Nussbaum.Gerald Hoffman is running unopposed in Ward 2 and David Slagel is the lone candidate in Ward 3.Township officials whose terms expire are running unopposed — Keith Coleman for township supervisor; James Wharton, Township Clerk; and Robert Slagel for Township Highway Commissioner. Four candidates are seeking four Township Trustee positions, Karyl Kafer, Keith Bittner, James Sutter and Robert W. Duffy.Brian Helmers is seeking reelection as Multi-Township Assessor for Belle Prairie and Indian Grove Townships.For members of the Prairie Central Board of Education to serve a full four-year term, Mark A. Slagel, Jason Dotterer, Patricia Haberkorn and Jeffrey Austman are all running unopposed.Voters in the Heartland Community College District No. 540, will elect three trustees to serve a six-year term. Those candidates vying for seats include Donald G. Gibb, Jeffrey Bathe, Jeffrey A. Flessner, Larry Lee Littell, Joe Gibson, Lance M. Reece and Patrick L. Hardesty.Christopher Ware and Craig Bertsche are seeking six-year terms as members of the Regional Board of School Trustees for DeWitt, Livingston and McLean counties.In Livingston County, the Retailers' Occupation Tax issue will be decided by voters. Voters will decide whether a retailers' occupation tax and a service occupation tax (commonly referred to as a "sales tax") be imposed at a rate of 1 percent to be used exclusively for school facility purposes.